Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2013 Black Tears by Tapiz is one of the best Malbecs in a world where this grape variety improves with each passing vintage. TASTING NOTES: This wine is a sophisticated red wine. Pair its aromas and flavors of generous black fruits and complimentary oak with grilled beef. (Tasted: April 4, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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James Suckling
This is dark and deep with intense blackberry, dark chocolate and violet character. Full and rich with lots of fruit. A little warm on the finish, but remains fresh.
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Wine Enthusiast
Blackberry, cassis and floral aromas are the lead actors on a musky nose. This ripe Malbec feels thick and syrupy, while rich flavors of blackberry, cassis, chocolate and mocha finish smooth but shy. For such a big wine, this is light on tannic bite. Drink through 2021.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sourced from the cool and high-altitude San Pablo zone in Tunuyán and cropped from a cool year, the 2013 Black Tears Malbec matured in new and second use French oak barrels for 24 months. It feels quite ripe and somewhat earthy in a style that combines aromas of peat, plums and graphite. It has abundant, fine-grained, slightly dusty tannins and more restraint than in previous vintages.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.